Nursery Views - Winter 2017

VOL. 47/NO. 2

Winter 2017

The Official Publication of The Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association

Using Soil

Moisture Sensors

to Schedule Irrigation in Nursery Crops

Plus, Program for

KNLA’s Spring Training & Showplace, January 24–25, 2018

VOL. 47/NO. 2

Winter 2017

Top Features

8 Green Gathering/ Upcoming Event

NLA’s Spring Training K & Showplace, January 24–25, 2018

12 In the Nursery

sing Soil Moisture Sensors U to Schedule Irrigation in Nursery Crops

Departments

16 Green

Gathering/ Recent Event

12

NLA Horticulture K Bus Tour, August 17

17 Green Gathering/ Recent Event

NLA’s Summer Outing, K September 21

16

6 From the President, Kim Fritz 6 Welcome, New knla Members!

7 Index of Advertisers 11 Charles Wilson Memorial Scholarship

Nurs ery Views • Winte r 2017

17 The Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Nursery Views, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bi-annual publication. Copyright © 2017 by the Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association. Nursery Views is published bi-annually. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association.

We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs.

Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

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The official publication of the Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association

P.O. Box 5006 l Frankfort, KY 40602-5006 502-330-8300 Email: knla.org@gmail.com www.knla.org KNLA Officers President Kim Fritz Village Green Wholesale Nursery 4251 Bloomfield Road • Springfield, KY 40069 Tel: 502-460-0764 villagegreenwholesalenursery@yahoo.com Vice President Michael Mueller Inside Out Design, LLC 100 Old Georgetown Road • Frankfort, KY 40601 Tel: 502-695-7020 • mike@insideout-design.org SECRETARY Stephanie tittle (2019) 4716 Greenhaven Lane Goshen, KY 40026 Tel: 502-303-4852 • wfarmgarden@gmail.com TREASURER Cora Martin (2018) Ammon Nursery, Inc. 6089 Camp Ernst Road • Burlington, KY 41005 Tel: 859-586-6246 • cmartin@ammonplants.com

Past President Martin Korfhage (deceased) Directors Pat Carey (2018) Riverfarm Nursery 2901 N. Buckeye Lane • Goshen, KY 40006 Tel: 502-228-5408 • patc@riverfarm.com Eric Garris (2018) Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest P.O. Box 130, Hwy. 245 • Clermont, KY 40110 Tel: 502-955-8512 • egarris@bernheim.org Brent Grunfeld (2018) Monrovia Tel: 615-584-0116 • bgrunfeld@monrovia.com Wes King (2018) King’s Gardens 4560 Nicholasville Road • Lexington, KY 40515 Tel: 859-272-7077 • wes@kingsgardens.com

Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC

206 Bridge Street l Franklin, TN 37064 615-790-3718 l Fax: 615-794-4525 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com www.leadingedgecommunications.com Jeff Moore (2018) Signature Landscapes, LLC 1084 Baker Lane • Nicholasville, KY 40356 Tel: 859-887-2735 jmsignaturela@windstream.net Jeff Wallitsch (2018) Wallitsch Nursery & Garden Center 206 Hikes Lane • Louisville, KY 40218 Tel: 502-454-3553 • jeff_wallitsch@live.com Educational Advisors Dr. Winston Dunwell UK Research & Education Center P.O. Box 469 • Princeton, KY 42445 Tel: 270-365-7541, ext. 209 wdunwell@uky.edu Dr. Dewayne Ingram University of Kentucky, Horticulture Dept.

N-308F Agri. Sci. Center • Lexington, KY 40546 Tel: 859-257-8903 • dingram@uky.edu Dr. Robert (Bob) E. McNiel (Emeritus) Highland Moor 226 Shady Lane • Midway, KY 40347 Tel: 859-509-2719 • rmcniel@highlandmoor.com

FROM THE PRESIDENT l Kim Fritz

Lots Happening with KLNA! Hello!

I hope everyone had a busy and profitable season!

The KNLA “Spring Training and Showplace” Winter Show will be bigger and better this year! The two-day event will be on Wednesday, January 24, and Thursday, January 25, at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in Louisville, KY. This was very successful last year, and we have even more fun in store for you this year! See more information and register at knla.org.

Spring Training will be comprised of seminars geared towards crew academy, plant production and management (see page 8). It will also include pesticide classes for those wanting to obtain a pesticide license and for those who need CEUs to maintain their pesticide license. And, there will be classes and CEUs for arborists and for landscape architects. As in the past, we will continue the Kentucky Certified Nursery Exam and Pesticide Exam.

You won’t want to miss the KNLA Annual Meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2018! We will be bidding a fond farewell to outgoing directors Cora Martin with Ammon Nurseries and Jeff Moore with Signature Landscapes. We will be voting in new board members, too! To entice you into coming, we will offer 25¢ beer and yummy appetizers!

Thank you to our sponsors for the 2017 KNLA Bus Tour — A.M. Leonard, Ammon’s Nursery, Boone Arboretum, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Dayton Bag and Burlap, J. Frank Schmidt and Sons Nursery, Listerman and Associates, McHutchison, Proven Winners, Riverfarm Nursery, Spring Meadow Cemetery, and Tom Green with Hans Nelson Nursery. Special thanks to Steve Foltz and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden! In addition to lunch and a tour of the Zoo, Steve presented at Spring Meadow Cemetery and at Boone Arboretum! See more information and photos on page 16 of this issue.

Thank also to our sponsors for the 2017 KNLA Summer Outing — AgCredit, Inside-Out Design, Monrovia, National Nursery Products, Proven Winners, Springhouse Gardens and the University of Kentucky. All the presenters were fantastic, and Springhouse Gardens was beautiful! See photos and a list of exhibitors on page 17 of this issue!

Our website has been revised, and we are excited about our new look. In addition, we are in the process of hiring a part-time director who will be assisting the board in membership, website updates, distributing informational materials and other needed responsibilities. Visit knla.org to see what’s happening with your organization!

Thank you for being an integral part of the Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association, and I’ll see you at Spring Training, January 24–25!

Kim Fritz

Nurs ery Views • Winte r 2017

2016–2017 KNLA President It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Martin Korfhage, immediate Past President of KNLA. Martin co-owned the successful Clinton Korfhage Nursery. Join me in praying for his family. Martin’s greatest love and contribution was as a devoted husband to Lynne, father to Bradley and Lauren and loving grandfather to Paige, Shelby and Emmy. He loved to hunt, fish and spend time at the lake. He loved children and volunteered for FFA. He loved plants and the nursery industry. He was a Christian. He was loved. We are going to miss you, Martin 6

Welcome, New KNLA Members!

Bioscape Outdoor Services Tom Welsh 130 N. Galt Ave. Louisville, KY 40206 (502) 599-1916 bioscapeoutdoorservices@gmail.com Campbell County Extension Sarah Stolz 3500 Alexandria Pike Highland Heights, KY 41076 (859) 572-2600 sarah.stolz@uky.edu Ferris Landscape Group 5800 N. Highway 393 Goshen, KN 40026 clay@ferrislandscapegroup.com Franklin Equipment 4141 Hamilton Square Groveport, OH 43125 jthurston@fersps.com Green Sleeves Design greensleevesdesign@msn.com Indiana Business Appraisals 3000 Technology Avenue New Albany, IN 47150 john@indianaba.com Liters Environmental 5918 Haunz Lane Louisville, KY 40421 annefarmerlq@gmail.com McAfee Mowing and Landscaping 114 North Second Street Danville, KY 40422 Monrovia James Szadek 75 Thompson St., Unit D Asheville, NC 28803 jszadek@monrovia.com Pemberton’s Greenhouses, LLC 555 Keller Court Lexington, KY 40511 pembertons@pembertons greenhouses.com Preston Greenhouse Steve Mercer 10613 Preston Hwy. Louisville, KY 40229 (502) 969-5655 smercer@iglou.com Smith Creek 8991 Louis Smith Road Borden, IN 47106 jroll@smithcreek.com United Landscape 729 Bellaire Avenue Lexington, KY 40508 sem@unitedlandscape.net

Advertisers Index

Ammon Wholesale Nursery, Inc............ 7

www.ammonplants.com

Anderson Mulch & Soil, LLC.................... 5

www.ralumber.com

Bobcat Enterprises, Inc.............Inside Front Cover

www.bobcat-ent.com

BOSHANCEE NURSERY, INC......................... 18

www.boshanceensy.com

Braun Horticulture................................ 15

www.braungroup.com

Center Hill Nursery................................ 11

www.centerhillnurseries.com

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries.............. 3

www.fairviewevergreen.com

Hortica..........................................Back Cover

www.hortica.com

Jelitto Perennial Seeds......................... 15

www.jelitto.com

Low Falls Wholsale Nursery................ 9

www.lowfallsnursery.com

McHutchison Horticultural................ 15

www.mchutchison.com

Millcreek Garedens, LLC....................... 15

www.millcreekplants.com

Richey Nursery Company, LLC................ 9

www.richeynursery.com

Smith Seed Services................................. 11

www.smithseed.com

Thomas Nursery........................................ 11

www.thomasnurserytrees.com

Tree Equipment Design, Inc..................... 7

Wellmaster Carts......... Inside Back Cover

www.wellmaster.ca

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Nur sery Views • Win ter 2017

www.treeequip.com

Upcoming Event

Education and Showplace available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both January 24 and 25 Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Louisville, KY

The

Kentucky Nursery & Landscape Association is excited to offer, for its winter educational event — KNLA’s Spring Training & Showplace. The presentations at this event are designed to assist the green industry with key information to help businesses remain viable in this time of shrinking dollars.

The event features two full days of educational sessions to choose from, plus extra time for you to browse the tradeshow floor at the Showplace!

The Education Conference allows you to: • Keep current with industry trends, issues and technology.

• Earn pesticide, arborist and landscape architect CEUs!

Nurs ery Views • Winte r 2017

The Showplace — January 24–25 — provides: • A convenient and economical alternative to traveling around the country searching for the products you need to move your business forward.

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• Two days to explore a diverse selection of horticultural products.

• A profitable opportunity to discover new product sources and boost your bottom line.

• The chance to expand your network and meet face-to-face with industry peers.

Attention KNLA Members!

Make sure to join us for KNLA’s Annual Business Meeting and Reception, to be held Wednesday, January 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), in the Ballroom in the Convention Center. Join us as we honor and vote in new — and reward outgoing — officers and directors. We will also honor the Charles E. Wilson Scholarship and KNLA Hall of Fame recipients. We will then unwind and gear up for the upcoming spring season by networking with your industry peers.

Kentucky Certified Nurseryman and KDA Pesticide Certification Exams The Kentucky Certified Nurseryman

exam will be offered on Wednesday, January 24, from 8:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and applicants can register using the conference brochure registration form or by visiting knla.org (go to “Calendar and Events,” and click on “Spring Training,” and then click on “Attendee Registration”). The cost of the KCN Exam is $75.00 for KNLA members and $100.00 for non-members.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Division of Environmental Services Pesticide Certification written exam will be held on Thursday, January 25, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Exam fees are $25.00 for the first category and $10.00 for each additional category. Please make checks payable to: Kentucky State Treasurer. All fees must be paid at the time of testing (directly to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Division of Environmental Services) with a check or money order (cash will not be accepted). If you have any questions regarding the Initial Pesticide Certification Exam, visit knla.org for more information.

Conference Registration

Questions and sponsorship information can be directed to KNLA by calling 502-330-8300, emailing knla.org@gmail.com or visiting us online at www.knla.org

Pre-registration deadline ends on Thursday, January 18, 2017.

All attendees who are registered by January 18 will be entered to win an Apple iPad! All Full registrants receive lunch and a complimentary KNLA Expo badge to use Wednesday and Thursday (1/24 and 1/25). Wednesday-only registrants receive lunch and complimentary Expo badge to use 1/24. Thursday-only registrants receive lunch and complimentary Expo badge to use 1/25.

Complete and mail in the form from your registration packed (mailed out earlier), or register online at: https://2018knla.eventbrite.com

Members

NonMembers

Full Conference

$220

$250

Wednesday Only

$115

$130

$75

$100

$115

$130

$20

$30

$25

$25

Per Person

Wednesday KCN Exam

(Pre-registration required)

Thursday Only Expo Badge

(no lunch)

Student

(both days, no lunch)

For Ramada Plaza reservations, call 502-491-4830. When making reservation mention “Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association” for special rate.

Earn Your Continuing Education Credits!

Need to earn some CEUs to retain your pesticide license or professional certification? Here, you can earn CEUs for the following organizations:

• Kentucky Department of Agriculture — 8 Pesticide hours available (2 General & 2 Specific per day) • Kentucky Landscape Architect Board — 9 hours available • International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborists — 13 hours available (5 available per day) These are the maximum credits you can earn if you attend the full conference.

After January 18, the following Onsite Fees will apply.

NonMembers

Full Conference

$250

$275

Wednesday Only

$130

$150

Thursday Only

$130

$150

$30

$30

$25

$25

Expo Badge (no lunch)

Student

(both days, no lunch)

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Nur sery Views • Win ter 2017

Members

Per Person

10

Digital

Marketplace Scan the QR code: Download a QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.

Nur sery Views • Win ter 2017

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In the Nursery

Soil Moisture Sensors Using

to Schedule Irrigation in Nursery Crops Photo

Nurs ery Views • Winte r 2017

1

Sensor-based irrigation installed in overwintered blueberry plants.

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Photo

2

A moisture sensor connected to monitoring nodes to monitor environmental factors of that particular zone. Five sensors can be plugged into the monitoring nodes.

By Zenaida Viloria, Ph.D., Extension Associate for Nursery Crops, and Win Dunwell, Ph.D., Extension Specialist for Nursery Crops, University of Kentucky

The

goal of irrigation scheduling is to provide plants with the right water volume at the right time.

Plant species and developmental stage, substrate and weather (temperature, solar radiation, precipitation and relative humidity) determine, to a large extent, any decision regarding watering. Furthermore, the rate of decrease in soil water content is related to plant water use and evaporation, and that must be considered in order to estimate when to irrigate and how much to water.

Irrigation is usually accomplished by timers that are set to provide extra water in order to make sure that plants receive more than what they actually need and

reduce any risk of under-watering. Water excess, however, increases nutrient leaching and disease incidence that put at risk plant growth and quality.

There are several methods to estimate changes of soil moisture content with the purpose of scheduling irrigation. In hightechnology irrigation, changes in volumetric water content (volume of water per volume of soil) can be accurately measured by soil water sensors. These sensors actually measure the dielectric of soil (velocity of electromagnetic waves or pulse through the soil) and then convert it to soil water content.

Research has shown a 40% and 70% reduction in irrigation water applications

Photo

3

Photo

4

The base station computer generates a website that can be accessed on-line. This computer is used to control the network and set up the irrigation parameters. The website can be customized, including specific information of the farm and sensor location and the output content.

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Nur sery Views • Win ter 2017

Control nodes. nC24 can control up to four irrigation zones. It has a solenoid valve to control flow or pressure in the irrigation pipes and to confirm a scheduled irrigation event.

with sensor-based, set-point irrigation control. For one grower, an average 50% reduction in irrigation saved over 43 million gallons of water and $6,500 in pumping costs in 2012 (Lea-Cox, 2014).

A wireless sensor network (from Decagon Devices, Pullman, WA) was installed for the production of containergrown blueberry nursery plants and blueberry fruit production in a container system at UKREC-Princeton (Photo 1).

Irrigation efficiency and substrate effect on phytophthora root rot infestation and other production factors will be evaluated this growing season.

Wireless sensor technology consists of multifunctional sensors that measure

In the Nursery l Continued

parameters such as soil moisture, temperature, relative humidity, electrical conductivity and pH. Soil moisture sensor nodes (Photo 2) are set at different irrigation sectors. Sensors are connected to monitoring nodes (Photo 2) that monitor only environmental factors and soil conditions.

The monitoring nodes are connected to the control nodes (Photo 3), which simultaneously control irrigation up to a maximum of four zones. Data are sent wirelessly to a base station (control computer) (Photo 4) at set time intervals. Control nodes receive and send information to and from the base station.

Data are accessible at real time from anywhere; therefore, decisions can be made opportunely. In sensor-based irrigation systems, an irrigation set point is previously determined as the lowest limit to start a new irrigation event (Figure 1).

In addition, a digital water meter is installed to control a leak in the system or an open solenoid.

Since this article was originally written, Decagon Devices and UMS AG have become METER Group. We have been notified that they will no longer be developing or supporting PlantPoint.

Mayim, LLC, is in the process of developing a control node that will integrate with other monitoring nodes and sensors from METER Group, to replace the PlantPoint system. The Mayim software (Sensorweb) that supports all the field equipment is already commercially available. 2

Figure

1

Volumetric water content of pine bark medium determined through a moisture sensor at a set point of 25%.

Photo

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Additional information

Nurs ery Views • Winte r 2017

Owen J. Understanding container moisture. http://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/ system/files/Digger_July_2011_p4145.pdf Lea-Coz, John, et.al. 2014. SCRIMINDS – Year 5 Final Report: Precision Irrigation and Nutrient Management for Nursery, Greenhouse and Green Roof Systems: Wireless Sensor Networks for Feedback and Feed-Forward Control. http://www.smart-farms.net/sites/default/ files/SCRI MINDS%20Year%205%20 Report.pdf

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Monitoring irrigation water use with a digital water meter can provide an alert in the event there is a leak in the system or a solenoid is open.

Nur sery Views • Win ter 2017

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Recent Event

August 17

KNLA Horticulture 2017 Bus Tour

The

KNLA Horticulture Bus Tour on August 17 began at Boone County Arboretum (Union, KY) and proceeded to a tour of and lunch at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Our third stop was at Ammon Wholesale Nursery (Burlington, KY), and we back to Boone Arboretum for dinner and the last stop. The all-day tour was attended by more than two dozen KNLA members who all thoroughly enjoyed the event.

Thank You to Our Sponsors A.M. Leonard Horticultural Tool & Supply Co. Ammon Wholesale Nursery Boone Arboretum Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Dayton Bag & Burlap Hans Nelson & Sons Nursery J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. Listerman & Assoc., Inc.

Nurs ery Views • Winte r 2017

McHutchison Proven Winners Riverfarm Nursery Spring Meadow Cemetery

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Annual KNLA Summer Outing Springhouse Gardens • Nicholasville, KY September 21, 2017

Thank You to Our Summer Outing Sponsors AgCredit Inside-Out Design Monrovia National Nursery Products Proven Winners

The University of Kentucky

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Nur sery Views • Win ter 2017

Springhouse Garden Center

Recent Event

Thanks Also to Our Summer Outing Exhibitors Abrams Nursery Ammon Wholesale Nursery Dayton Bag & Burlap Franklin Equipment Green Resources Highland Moor Kelly Nursery, LLC Klyn Nurseries Laurel Nursery Monrovia National Nursery Products Natorp Wholesale Nursery Richey Nursery Company Riverfarm Nursery Samara Farms Scarff’s Nursery, Inc. Snow Hill Nursery, Inc. Nurs ery Views • Winte r 2017

Strain and Son’s Nursery United Label Village Green Wholesale Nursery

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